tank tread final

8/2/2019 Tank Tread Final

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Inventors Guide insert

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motion accessories

Tank treads will enable your robot to explore much more

demanding terrain than ordinary wheels. Tank treads

distribute a vehicles weight more evenly than wheels,

allowing your robot to move more easily in sand or on soft,

spongy surfaces into which wheels would sink and bog down.

This increased surface area also gives your robot more

traction for hauling heavy loads up an incline. And because

each link can grip the surface over which its traveling, a

robot with tank treads can more easily climb obstacles or

traverse crevasses in which wheels would get stuck.

tank tread

drive/idler wheel x 4

INSERT THIS PAGE

at the back of the

Motion chapter in your

Vex Inventors Guide.

tank tread kit

bogey wheel assembly x 4

bogey wheel

support screw x 12

(8-32x1")

bogey wheel support

keps nut x 12

tank tread links (2 preassembled chains )

x 85 links each (32.75" each)

single bogey

wheel assembly (tensioner) x 2


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tank tread kit, continued

Assembly Instructions1 Build Your Support Structure

Start by assembling the chassis of your robot and the support

structure on which you intend to mount the tank tread. (Note: the

structure shown in these instructions is only for reference.) The

mounting structure should include two axles spaced out such that

there are 11 open holes in between them. One of these axles will be

connected to a motor, which will drive the whole assembly.

11 holes

As you learned in the Vex Inventors Guide, a

robots structure and motion subsystems are

usually interdependent and often have to be built

together. In this case, youll need to have some

pre-existing structure to which you can connectthe tank track components. In particular, youll

need a chassis rail or other structural component,

two axles for the tank tracks drive wheels, and a

motor to power one of those axles. Remember to

mount the motor securely using two 6-32 screws,

or youll have problems down to the road!

Note: for more information on motors and motion

systems, see the Motion chapter in your Vex

Inventors Guide.

NOTE: The following

assembly instructions show

how to build tank tracks for

one side of your robot. The

same directions should also

be followed to build the

other side.


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2 Add bogey wheel assembliesAdd two bogey wheel assemblies to the support structure as shown.

Note that, for both bogey wheel assemblies, there should be two

spaces separating the bogey wheel assembly and the axle. Secure

the bogey wheel assemblies to the support structure using two8-32x1" screws and two keps nuts per bogey wheel assembly. The

oblong holes in the bogey wheel assemblies will allow you to adjust

the tension of the tracks once youve finished assembling the system.

Your assembly should now look like this:

Parts needed in this step:

x 2 x 4 x 4

bogey wheelassembly

8-32 x 1"screw keps nut


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3 Add tensioner assemblyAdd one tensioner assembly to the support structure as shown.

Note that the tensioner should be flush with the right bogey

wheel assembly. Secure the tensioner to the support structure using

two 8-32x1" screws and two keps nuts. The oblong holes in the

tensioner assembly will allow you to adjust the tension of the tracks

once youve finished assembling the system.



x 1 x 2 x 2

single bogeywheel assembly(tensioner)

8-32 x 1"screw keps nut


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4 Mount drive wheelsMount the drive wheels on the axles of the support structure.



x 2

tank treaddrive/idlerwheel


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5 Verify position of components.At this point, make sure that your assembly looks like this. Its very

important to have all the components in the right position with respect to

one another, or the preassembled tread links might not fit.

6 Adjust chain of tread links.The tread links come preassembled in two long chains of

85 links apiece. For this design, youll need a section of

chain with 47 links in it. The link material is slightly

flexible, which makes it easy to separate links from therest of the chain. Just bend the arms out GENTLY! just

enough to disengage the hole from the posts on the next

link. Reverse the process to reassemble the links.


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7 Add tread links.Wrap the chain of 47 preassembled tread links around the drive

wheels, tensioner, and bogey wheel assemblies, making sure that the

teeth of the drive wheels mesh with the rollers of the links.

Note how the teeth on the drive wheel fit

between the rollers on the tread links.


x 1 chain

tank treadlinks


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Once the chain of tread links is securely in place, connect the first

and last link to make a continuous loop.

You can now slightly loosen the screws holding the bogey wheel

assemblies and tensioner in place. Slide the tensioner and the

bogey wheel assemblies to tighten the chain of tread links. If the

tread links are loose, theyll come off once the robot is in motion.

Limited 90-day WarrantyThis product is warranted by Innovation One against manufacturing defects in material and workmanship under

normal use for ninety (90) days from the date of purchase from authorized Innovation One dealers. For complete

warranty details and exclusions, check with your dealer.

Innovation One, Inc.

350 North Henderson Street

Fort Worth, TX 76102

08/05

Printed in China

0405

tank tread final

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